Wozniack, Parmentier Win Titles in Stanford, Bad Gastein!

July 20th, 2008

Bad Gastein, Austria and Stanford, USA

For the Bank of the West Classic, the names just dropped off significantly. Lindsay Davenport pulled out of the event even before it began and heavy favorite to win the easy title was Serena Williams. It looked that way after Williams cruised to her Semi-Final round destroying Patty Schnyder on the way in the Quarter-Finals. Then something happened, Serena's knee began to act up in the Semi's. Trailing 6-2, 3-1 down, Williams retired which put the question of whether she'll be fit for the Olympics next month. Williams already missed the 2004 Olympics due to her knee. Wozniack took advantage of getting to the Finals however and dismissed Marion Bartoli, 7-5, 6-3. Wozniack became the first Canadian since 1988 to win a WTA Tour title and she'll be looking to continue her streak in the coming weeks. As for Serena, its highly doubtful she'll play in Los Angeles next week.

In Bad Gastein, nothing too surprising happened, in the Finals Parmentier was facing off against Qualifier, Lucie Hradecka. Some surprising losses happened with Wozniacki and Szavay losing, but the Frenchwoman Parmentier didn't notice all that, seeded fourth she won the Finals with a comfortable, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

The tour turns its attention now to the East West Bank Classic in Los Angeles next week where Serena Williams is still scheduled to play as well as Jelena Jankovic. Also in Slovenia, the Banka Koper Slovenia Open takes place for lower ranked players.

Cornet Wins First Title, Errani Also A First Time Winner!

July 13th, 2008

Budapest, Hungary and Palmero, Italy

One week removed from the third Grand Slam of the calendar, Wimbledon and the women were back on their treks to continuing the season. This week the women stopped in tour small points Budapest and Palmero. Both tournaments oddly are played on red clay outdoors. Most who played were ones who probably didn't do so well at Wimbledon.

In Budapest, French up and comer Alize Cornet who is wondeful on the clay won her first tour title with little trouble. Cornet was unchallenged in most of her matches, in fact only losing 11 games in her first three. However in the final she faced off against Andreja Klepac and was forced into a competitive two set match, but in the end Cornet was the stronger player and was raising up the trophy. Cornet won 7-6(5), 6-3.

In Palmero, another first time WTA Tour winner was crowned. Sara Errani broke out of her mold and stopped a dream final between Flavia Pennetta and Garrigues from happening as she reached the final, looking for her first title. It wasn't much of a final with Errani defeating Mariya Koryttseva in a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Last week saw the Williamses return to the top of the women's game and this week new champions were crowned.

Next week the tour stops in both Stanford and in Bad Gastein for exciting events, which should be fun for all as the US Open Series begins.

Photos of Day 12!

Venus Victorious With 5th Wimbledon Championship, Defeats Serena!

July 5th, 2008

London, England

The third Williams Final at Wimbledon and the first since 2003 was a competetive and close match. Venus was looking for her 5th Wimbledon championship while Serena was searching for her 3rd. It would be an up and down match, especially in the first set, but only one could come out the victor.

Serena Williams started on Centre Court with amazing precision and power. She played well and was moving well, getting up to an early 2-0 lead. She even won 10 out of the first 12 points played. Venus on the other hand looked nervous and uneasy as balls kept flying past her. It wasn't until Serena was serving at 4-3, that Venus broke back and leveled the match. From there on the roles were reversed and Venus looked more comfortable, with Serena faltering. Venus moved up in the first set and broke Serena again at 6-5 to take the set, 7-5. From then on, Serena really seemed uneasy with herself.

The second set, Serena once again broke to take a 2-1 lead, but she couldn't hold it and lost her service game right after. Venus moved ahead and started serving better and moving better. Serena on the other hand seemed to toss in more errors. When it came to be 5-4 for Venus, Serena had to serve to stay in the match. Saving one championship point at 15-40, Serena had to save another. It was a nice rally, but Serena went for too much and hit wide, allowing Venus to capture her 7th Grand Slam and 5th Wimbledon championship. For Serena it was her first trip past a Grand Slam Quarter-Final since the 2007 Australian Open. Now, the Williams sisters will try to take the Women's Doubles at Wimbledon later on this day.

Looking forward to the summer, the women will have to battle it out in Montreal and the California summer hardcourts. Also with the added pressure of the Olympics, and then the US Open, it should be a hot summer for the leading ladies of tennis.

Results:

Centre Court:

(7)Venus Williams d. (6)Serena Williams - 7-5, 6-4

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Lost Round 3 (Zheng)

2. Jelena Jankovic - Lost Round of 16 (Tanasugarn)

3. Maria Sharapova - Lost Round 2 (Kudryavtseva)

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Lost Round of 16 (Radwanska)

5. Elena Dementieva - Lost Semi-Finals (V. Williams)

6. Serena Williams - Lost Finals (V. Williams)

7. Venus Williams - CHAMPION

8. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round of 16 (Vaidasova)

9. Dinara Safina - Lost Round 3 (Peer)

10. Daniela Hantuchova - Lost Round 2 (Kleybanova)

Day 10 Photos!

All Williams Final Set For The Third Time At Wimbledon!

July 3rd, 2008

London, England

The women's Semi-Finals were played today at Wimbledon with heavy favorites, Venus and Serena Williams leading the way against surprises, Elena Dementieva and Jie Zheng. The defending champion, older sister Venus was up first on Centre Court against Dementieva. The first set was a complete washout as Williams simply outplayed and overpowered the Russian from all points on the court. Venus looked determined to win quickly. However Dementieva steadied herself in the second set and made a match out of the event. It led to a tiebreak where the server is usually at an advantage, and Dementieva is not known for her serve. Venus pulled ahead and won the tie break comfortably at 7-3. Venus now enters her 7th Wimbledon final in 9 years. She'll be looking for her 5th title.

Younger sister Serena was up next against Jie Zheng, and she too started off strongly, winning the first set 6-2. Rain came and interrupted play, but the players came back and Zheng was a changed woman. The Chinese player came out firing and didn't look nervous or scared. Instead, Williams was the more tentative one, hitting off of her back foot. The match ended up in a tiebreak after Serena saved a set point. During the tiebreak, Serena was just slightly stronger and ended up with the win, 7-5. This marks the seventh time the Williamses will face off in a Grand Slam final and the first since Wimbledon 2003. Serena defeated Venus in three sets during that final. Its up in the air at the moment, and I'm not even sure who will win.

Results:

Centre Court:

(7)Venus Williams d. (5)Elena Dementieva - 6-1, 7-6(3)

(6)Serena Williams d. Jie Zheng - 6-2, 7-6(5)

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Lost Round 3 (Zheng)

2. Jelena Jankovic - Lost Round of 16 (Tanasugarn)

3. Maria Sharapova - Lost Round 2 (Kudryavtseva)

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Lost Round of 16 (Radwanska)

5. Elena Dementieva - Lost Semi-Finals (V. Williams)

6. Serena Williams - Finals

7. Venus Williams - Finals

8. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round of 16 (Vaidasova)

9. Dinara Safina - Lost Round 3 (Peer)

10. Daniela Hantuchova - Lost Round 2 (Kleybanova)

Day 8 Photos!

Venus, Serena Victorious, Will Meet Zheng, Dementieva in Wimbledon Semi's!

July 1st, 2008

London, England

The women's Quarter-Finals were played today and there were no really big surprises in action. Both Venus and Serena Williams continued on in their quest for a third Wimbledon final against each other after facing off in both 2002 and 2003. They moved one step closer today as both reached the Semi-Finals. This is Venus' 7th trip to the Wimbledon Semi-Finals. For Serena, it is her 4th time.

Venus started on Court 1 against Tamarine Tanasugarn and no one really gave the underdog a chance and niether did Venus. Williams tore into her opponent and used her better serve and harder ground strokes to move Tanasugarn all over the court. Venus looked her deadly self as she made sure she would continue on in hopes of a 5th Wimbledon crown. Venus won, 6-4, 6-3. Younger sister Serena was playing the more dangerous opponent in rising star, Agnieszka Radwanska, but Williams didn't show any signs of pressure and easily dispatched the young Polish player with a 6-4, 6-0 victory. Serena defeated Agnieszka's younger sister in the 2nd Round.

The Williamses opponents in the Semi-Finals will be surprises. Elend Dementieva who is making her first Wimbledon Semi-Final will take on Venus and Serena takes on Jie Zheng, the first Chinese player ever in the Semi-Finals of a slam. The Williamses are the heavy favorites, but we will see what can happen. Jie Zheng fought hard for a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 victory over Nicole Vaidasova and Elena Dementieva battled to a 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-3 win over Nadia Petrova.

The women's Semi-Finals will be played on Thursday.

Results:

Centre Court:

(5)Elena Dementieva d. (21)Nadia Petrova - 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-3

(6)Serena Williams d. (14)Agnieszka Radwanska - 6-4, 6-0

Court 1:

(7)Venus Williams d. Tamarine Tanasugarn - 6-4, 6-3

Jie Zheng d. (18)Nicole Vaidasova - 6-2, 5-7, 6-1

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Lost Round 3 (Zheng)

2. Jelena Jankovic - Lost Round of 16 (Tanasugarn)

3. Maria Sharapova - Lost Round 2 (Kudryavtseva)

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Lost Round of 16 (Radwanska)

5. Elena Dementieva - Semi-Finals

6. Serena Williams - Semi-Finals

7. Venus Williams - Semi-Finals

8. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round of 16 (Vaidasova)

9. Dinara Safina - Lost Round 3 (Peer)

10. Daniela Hantuchova - Lost Round 2 (Kleybanova)